National Round-Up Campaign in Support of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Published 9:00 AM ET Mon, 28 April 2014
Globe Newswire

NEW YORK, April 28, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) is delighted to announce that for the month of May, Bridgestone Retail Operations, LLC (BRSO) will raise money for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis with a nationwide "round-up" program. BSRO employees and its 2,200 retail locations nationwide, including Firestone Complete Auto Care, ExpertTire, Tires Plus, and Wheel Works, will support the efforts of CCFA through a program that offers customers the opportunity to round up their transactions to the nearest dollar for CCFA.

"We are grateful to Bridgestone Retail Operations and its customers for their support. Having 2,200 locations nationwide involved in this campaign brings much needed awareness to our cause and the monetary donation will fund critical research," said Richard Geswell, President of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America. "We believe cures are within our reach, but we need to keep funding the research."

Known collectively as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis affects nearly 1 in 200 people. They are painful, medically incurable diseases that attack the digestive system. Crohn's disease may attack anywhere along the digestive track, while ulcerative colitis inflames only the large intestine (colon). Symptoms may include abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fever and weight loss. Most people develop the diseases between the ages of 15 and 35; however the incidence is increasing in children.

Walk With Us

In addition to the Round-up campaign, Gary Garfield, President & CEO of Bridgestone Americas, Inc, serves as CCFA's National Chair for their Take Steps walk program. Take Steps is the largest walk program in the country dedicated to raising funds and awareness for digestive diseases.

Now in its seventh year, Take Steps is gearing up for its spring season with over 80 walks scheduled across the country. Take Steps walks are family friendly festivals with activities for everyone including games, music, and great food. For more information on how to get involved with Take Steps and to find a 2014 spring walk site nearest you, please visit www.cctakesteps.org, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Take Steps is supported in 2014 by Abbvie, our platinum sponsor.

About the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America

The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) is the largest voluntary non-profit health organization dedicated to finding cures for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD). CCFA's mission is to cure Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults who suffer from these diseases. The Foundation works to fulfill its mission by funding research, providing educational resources for patients and their families, medical professionals, and the public, and furnishing supportive services for those afflicted with IBD. For more information, visit www.ccfa.org, call 888-694-8872, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter

For the third year in a row, the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) earned a 4 out of 4 star rating from Charity Navigator, the nation's largest independent evaluator of charities, "indicating that the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way, and outperforms most other charities in America."